As they absorb Gen Y, like many employers universities are struggling to understand whether this generation is really any different – or perhaps if the larger challenge is that so many generations are in the workplace simultaneously.
For example – are they more selfish and need to be taught the value of contributing to the community, or do they actually volunteer more but eschew busy work and want to see less talk and more results?
One university at least is cutting across questions like that by including in their graduation requirements a unit of “volunteer experience”. ACU at their Strathfield campus, for example, requires BA students to give 15 days of time to an approved voluntary service organisation before they can graduate from their course.
Our very own office & languages assistant, Alan (pictured), has just taken this on in his second year studies. In what is a natural fit with other voluntary work done for years by our MD, Carolyn, Alan will be completing that commitment with the Zonta International District 24 Inc Board, and recently got under way by assisting with the organisation’s inaugural annual general meeting since becoming incorporated in 2009.